Call for applications to participate in the exhibition of artistic ceramics VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026
The National Museum of Slovenia is setting up the VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026 and announcing a call for applications to participate in the exhibition of international production in artistic ceramics over the last three years.
Deadline for applications: Monday, 1 December 2025.
 APPLICATION
The International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026 is a premier international art exhibition held every three years, acting as a catalyst for emerging artistic trends. It provides a platform for artists from around the world to present cutting-edge works. The UNICUM Triennial 2026 promotes sustainable practices by encouraging the use of eco-friendly ceramic materials and techniques that minimise environmental impact. Through exhibitions, artist residencies, and collaborative projects, it fosters innovation in ceramic art, placing sustainability at the forefront of creative exploration. This event stands as a driving force for both artistic evolution and environmental consciousness within the global art community.
The emphasis is on popularisation as well as presentation of contemporary ceramics as an independent area in the field of artistic creation. Triennial is a connection between international and Slovene area and it gives a fresh insight into artistic ceramics. Its intention is searching for elementary artistic research in connection to contemporary thought. We are looking for new concepts, technologies and innovative research in the field of ceramic art that are connected to contemporary life.
VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026 contains competitive part and accompanying events and exhibitions all over Slovenia. The National Museum of Slovenia will host the competitive part of the triennial as well as the exhibition of ceramics of students from Art Schools and Academies chosen by the invited mentors. All the addresses of locations, where exhibitions and events will take place, and all the timetables will be announced at our website.
Rules of participation
The call for application is international and public, the topic is not specified, and there is no registration fee and no age limit. Any individual artist or group of artists working in the field of ceramic art may participate in the VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026. Ceramic artworks may include other materials which must not predominate. Each participant is allowed to submit up to two artworks or two projects consisting of several ceramic elements. Due to the limitations of the exhibition space, objects must not exceed the dimensions of 2×2×2 m, and two-dimensional artworks (suitable for hanging on the wall) must not exceed 4×3 m. By applying, the artists assure that these are their own works, created within the last five years and not submitted to other competitions. If the organiser finds that the submitted work does not meet these conditions, it reserves the right to withdraw the work from the exhibition and, if this work has won any award, cancel it. Members of the organizing committee, the international jury are not allowed to take part in the competitive part of the Triennial. The works selected for the exhibition will be chosen by the international jury on the basis of the received documentation. The costs of sending and returning the artworks must be covered by the author.
Application
Applications for the competitive part of the triennial with all documentation required must be sent by email: info@unicum.si.
Each author has to deliver:
- Correctly filled application form.
- Two photographs of each ceramic artwork from different angles in required format and printing quality, labelled with the title and dimensions of artwork in centimeters (e. g. Title of the Artwork_Dimensions_Picture1).
- Self-portrait photograph.
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All photos should be in JPEG (.jpg); resolution of 300 dpi is required. Pictures are to be taken in front of a neutral background. A photograph of the final artwork for the exhibition must be submitted. With application, each author allows the organiser to use all the information from the received documentation for promotion and the catalogue of the triennial. The organiser of the triennial does not take any responsibility for published information, given by the authors in the application. The author is taking full responsibility for correctness of the information on him/her and his/her artwork. Received applications will be kept in the archives of the triennial as a part of documentation. Authors cannot exchange artworks selected on the basis of the received photographs or otherwise replace them with other artworks. The organiser reserves the right to use photographic and video material of selected works for the exhibition.
Deadline for Application
The deadline for application is on Monday, 1st December 2025.
The organiser will not consider incomplete applications. We advise you not to submit your application just before the deadline to avoid delays or other problems with our computer servers because we expect to receive many entries just before the deadline.
Selection of Artworks and Notification
International jury will select artworks on the basis of the received photographs.
List of selected authors will be announced on Tuesday, 9th February 2026, on the website of the triennial. Selected authors will be notified via email.
Delivery of Selected Artworks
The costs of sending and returning the artworks must be covered by the author. The authors must use door-to-door service (e.g. International Express Shipping). The participants must pay customs duty. Accepted artworks must be delivered in a re-usable package no later than Tuesday, 24th April 2026 to: VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026, National Museum of Slovenia, Prešernova 20, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Each artwork must be delivered in packaging, required by the established standards and usable for storage and return. In case the packaging is unusable for return, the author is responsible for collecting his work personally, or it becomes the property of the organiser. After receiving the delivery, notification emails will be sent to the authors. Artworks which will arrive damaged or ruined will not be exhibited and will be returned to the author together with a damage report. Damaged artworks can be restored by the conservators and restorers of the National Museum of Slovenia if permission is given by the author. In case the selected artworks consist of several pieces, the author has to add a plan for setting up the artwork at the exhibition.
Return of Artworks
Authors must reclaim displayed pieces within one month after the last day of the triennial exhibition (until 15th November 2026). They can reclaim their works in person or cover the costs of returning their artworks by post.
The author can donate the exhibited work to the National Museum of Slovenia. The National Museum of Slovenia reserves the right to accept or decline donations. In the case of donation or waiver of the return of works, the National Museum of Slovenia may dispose of them according to the exhibition and promotional purposes.
Insurance of Artworks
Insurance of artworks during the transport from the author to the organiser and back is author's responsibility. Insurance of artworks during the exhibition is made at the expense of the organiser.
International Jury
Artworks for the VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026 will be selected by an international professional jury.
The jury consists of:
- Irene Biolchini (Italy), PhD, art historian, curator, art critic;
- Alenka Gregorič (Slovenia), art historian, curator, Artistic Director of the Gallery Cukrarna and Gallery Tobačna, Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana;
- Danijela Pivašević (Serbia, Germany), professor of Ceramics at the Universität der Künste Berlin.
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The international jury will select the artworks based on the received photo documentation. The Jury will make selection for 4 awards and 3 recognitions. The decision of the jury is final.
Awards and Recognitions
Awards and recognitions will be announced at the opening of the exhibition of the VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026.
The Exhibition of the Triennal
The opening of the VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026 will take place on Friday, 15th May 2026 at the National Museum of Slovenia, Prešernova 20, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The closing of the exhibition will be on 15th October 2026. Along with the exhibition of the VI. International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026, a printed catalogue of the selected artworks and other promotion material will be published. Authors of the selected artworks will receive the catalogue free of charge.
The Organising Committe
- Prof. Dragica Čadež Lapajne (president of the Organizing Committee UNICUM), professor emeritus, academic sculptor, and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC);
- Alja Fir, conservator and restorer, curator, and project manager at Center Rog;
- Assistant Prof. Mateja Kos Zabel, PhD, art historian, museum counsellor, and director of the National Museum of Slovenia;
- Anja Radović, designer of unique objects and project manager at the Centre Rog;
- Renata Zamida, philosopher, journalist, and director of the Centre Rog;
- Assistant Prof. Zora Žbontar, PhD, art historian and curator at the National Museum of Slovenia.
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Application must be sent to: info@unicum.si.
Deadline for applications: Monday, 1st December 2025.
Address for delivery of selected artworks: VIth International Ceramics Triennial UNICUM 2026, National Museum of Slovenia, Prešernova 20, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Please do not hesitate to contact us by email (info@unicum.si) if you have any questions.
Organization
National Museum of Slovenia
Prešernova 20
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenija
Information
Zora Žbontar
info@unicum.si
T: +386 1 241 44 25 |
